Envelope



Sept. 26, 1933. w Rv LEAs 1,928,180

ENVELOPE Filed April 6, 19:51 5 sheets-sheet 1 l /E/a l I 77. 3 57j /rren/ jb?. Lew

@@mzm A llomey W. R. LEAS Sept. 26, 1933.

ENVELOPE Filed April 6, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenlor /rrezz/? as /JJ A By '1mm ,/Iltomey Sept. 26, 1933. w. R. LEAs 1,928,180

ENVELOPE Filed April 6, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 nvenlor Q/'rem eas J4 llame y Sept. 26, 1933. I w. R LEAs 1,928,180

ENVELOPE Filed April 5, 1931 5 Sher-J1',S-Sheell 4 maar f Inventor 7 y Myra/2, ??Zg ,/1 Home y Sept. 26, 1933. w, R, LEAs 1,928,180

ENVELOPE Filed April 6, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @l umm cfN f fr/'em @ws Patented Sept. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES ENVELOPE` Warren R. Leas, Wyoming, Pa., assignor of onethird to Samuel Shannon, Forty Fort, Pa., and one-third to Frederick A. Hopper, Wyoming, Pa.

Application April 6, 1931. Serial No. 528,109 2 claims. (o1. 229-82) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in paper receptacles and more particularly to a novel letter envelope.

The principal object of fthis invention is to provide an envelope with means whereby the interior of the envelope orthe letter sheet will be marked in the event the envelope has been tampered with.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an `envelopewith means rendering the opening thereof difficult without 4resulting in the creation of vsome token making it apparent that the envelope has been tampered with. Y

Other Vimportant objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawingsz- Figure l represents a rear side elevational view of one form of the envelopek sealed. Y

Fig. 2 represents a rear side elevational view ofthe form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 with the upper flap in open position. Y

Fig. 3 represents a top planview of the envelope sheet before it is assembled.

Fig. 4 represents a cross sectional View taken substantially on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary outside elevational view of the top flap of the form shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 represents a side elevational View of a folded letter sheet showing the marks produced by the dye paper.

Fig. 7 represents a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 represents a rear side elevational view of the second form of the invention.

Fig. 9 represents a rear elevational view of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 with the top flaps in open position.

Fig. 10 represents a plan view of the envelope sheet before assemblage. n

Fig. 1l represents a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line ll--ll of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 represents a rear elevational view of the third form of the invention.

vof the form of the invention shown in Fig. l2 with the top flap in open position. n v

Fig. 14 represents a top plan view of the envelope sheet ofthe form shown in Fig. 12 before being assembled. A

Fig. 15 represents a rear sideY elevational view of a fourth modification of the invention.

Fig. 16 represents a rearside elevational View of the envelope shown in Fig. 15 with the top in open position.

Fig. 17 represents a top plan view of the envelope sheet of the form shown in Fig. 15, before assembled.

Fig. 18 represents a rear side elevational view of the fifth form of the invention.

Fig. 19 represents a rear side elevational View of the` form of the invention shown in Fig. 18 with the top flap in open position.

Fig. 20 represents a top plan view of the envelope sheet of the form shown in Fig. 18 before assembled.

Fig. 21 represents `a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of any one of the envelopes, showing the glued portion to which the dyeV paper is adhered.

Fig. 22 represents a fragmentary rear side elevational View of particularly the invention shown in Figs. 8, l2 and 18, disclosing information that may be adopted.

Fig. 23 represents a fixed modification of the invention, the change being in theflap.

Fig. 24 represents a fragmentary plan view of VVany one of the 'envelopes showing a circular dye paper in place of the rectangular forms shown in the other views.

Fig. 25represents a fragmentary sectional view disclosing a modification of the die paper.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that in each form ofthe invention the envelope consists of a sheet formed with the front section 5, the end flaps 6 6, and the top and bottom flaps 7 and 8 respectively.

In each of the forms of the invention, at least one marking unit is provided and these units are represented in different forms in Figs. 7, 21, 24 and 25. While the particular shape of theopening in the envelope sheet is immaterial, Fig. 21 discloses a circular opening 9 located between a pair of elongated adhesive coatings 10-.10 and the rectangular shaped dye paper 11 is adhered at its ends to the envelope sheet by these coatings.

Fig. 24 shows the circular opening 9, however,

- the envelope sheet and its opening 9 is coated with Fig. Y13 represents a rear side elevational view adhesive, whereby the circular dye paper 12 is secured thereto.

Another form of the marking unit is disclosed in Fig. 25 wherein a sheet of thin white transparent material 13 is secured to the outer side of the die paper 14 so that the dye paper will be substantially visible, yet readily activated by hot water, steam or the like to the material 13. For the purpose of facilitating the following description of the market units, it will be generally referred to by numeral l5, and it is to be understood that any one of the forms of the marking unit can be employed in lieu of the particular form represented and furthermore, various other modifications of the marking unit can be adopted within the scope of the claims appended. Furthermore, it ispreferable that the material 13 be of a moisture-proof material such as cellophane.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it can be seen that this is the rst form of the invention and Fig. 3 shows that both the upper and lower flaps 'I and 8 are provided with a marking unit. As is shown in Fig. 2, when the flaps 6 6 are bent inwardly, they terminate in spaced relation to each other, vso

' that dye from the markings unit'l on the lower ilap 8 can reach the letter sheet.

The free edge portion of the lower iriap 8 is pro- 8 at the intermediate portion of the slot'l isprovided with a notch 13. The aforementioned tab 18 has its entire inner surface provided with an adhesive coating which merges with the adhesive margin 20 on the edge portion ofthe upper nap 7. The tab 18 has an opening 21 therethrough and a strip of adhesive coating 22 on the outer 'side thereof.

It will now be observed that the tab 18, is ine serted downwardly through the slot 17'so that the opening 27 registers with the opening 9 of the lower flap 8. The adhesive coating on. the inside of the tab 18 will adhere to the end flaps 6 6, while the strip of adhesive 22 will adhere to the inner side ofthelower flap 8'. The marking unit 15 of the upper flap 7 will register with the space between the curved corners 22 of the end aps Fig. 8 shows va second form of the invention -wherein the upper llap'l is provided with the slot 1'7' and notch 19', adjacent to which is vlocated a marking unit 15.v The inner side, of

the tab 21 is provided with an adhesive coating Vasis the space surrounding the slot .17. .This

adhesive coating merges with the marginal adhesive portions 20. AThe lower nap 8 has its v*exclusive of the tongue 24 which has substan- `tially one-half portion of its outer side provided with an adhesive coating28. (See Fig. 9)

The upper corner portions of the iiaps 6 6 are notched out asat- 29 to provide an opening registrable with the opening 25 and opening 9 of the marking unit 15. It can now be seen that` the v tab21 is insertible under the tongue 24, while the tongue 24 extends over the vtab 21 and through the slot 17 to pass under the marking unit 15 and to cohere the same solidly to the top flap 7, with the opening therein registering with the opening 9 of the marking unit 15.

Fig. 12 shows a third form of the invention which is very similar to the form shown in Fig. 8, excepting that the ends of the iiaps 6 6 are provided with notches 36, which when the lflaps 6 6 are brought together, forms 'an opening registering with the opening 31 inthe tab 21a. The slot 17 and notch 19' are provided in this 'over the tab and through the slot 1'7'. The

`against the same, the tab 21a is inserted under the tongue 24, while the tongue 24 is disposed 85 opening 31 in the tab 21a registers with the opening 9, of the marking unit 15 so that the dye paper thereof will be exposed to the letter sheet. The adhesive side 28 of the tongue 24 will of course cohere with the inner side of the top flap 8 so as rto firmly secure the upper marking units against the upper naps, with the openings '25 in the tongue registering with the opening 9 of the uppermarking units.

The fourth form of the invention is shown 9a in'Fig. 15. In this form of the invention, the upper flap '7 is provided with a small ear 31 on each side vof the tab 18' and is provided with the opening 21. Otherwise, this envelope is construct'ed in substantially the same manner as the r10U form shownv in Fig. 1, with the exception of the notches 32 32 in the ends of the flaps 6 6, which serve to provide an opening in the present case, where the ends of the flaps 6 6 terminate inf, close relation, these notches not beingnecessary in the form shown in Fig. 1 because the flaps terminate sufficient apart.v With the envelope shown in Fig. 15 assembled in the same Ymanner as the envelopein Fig. l, the ears 31-31 adhere:F against the outer side of the lower flap 8 so as to 110 make it considerably diiicult to insert an instrument.

Fig. 18 discloses the fifth form of the invention which is substantially like the form shown'in Fig. r,

10, but has the blunt end-portions 32 32 at the opposite sides of the tongue 24.

The envelope shown in Fig.` 18 has assembled,. in the same manner as the `envelope in Fig. 12,125 however, it will be observed that across the blunt end portions 32 32, a greater adhesive surface is presented. n Y

Fig. 23 shows amodication of the upper flap. 7 such as is shown in Figs. 10, 14 and 20, wherein 130 the notch 19 has its edge portion provided with a plurality of indentations 33. Fig. 22 shows that considerable information 34 can lbe 'stamped on the tongue 24 and that certain indicative'data can be located adjacent 'the marking unitsl. 13@

r`By Way of illustration, take'for instance lthe envelope shown in Fig. l. Afknfe or someother instrument is inserted under the flap '7 in an attempt to open the envelope with the least possi ble damage thereto. ,Ifhe knife will engage the 14% vdye paper of the upper marking unit and will detach the same from the iiap so that it will disappear from the opening 9. Obviously, no matter how ingeniously the envelope is reconstructed,`

the dye paper will be' absent Vfrom its proper 125 diflicult and obviously the detaching of either one of these ears 31 is suicient ev1dence that the envelope has been handled by an unauthorized person.

If in the event the wrongdoer attempts to unseal the envelope by steam, a wet blotter or the use of water or in any form, the dye will run from the marking units 15 directly onto the letter sheet and will mark the lettersheet in the manner substantially shown in Fig. 6, wherein numeral 35 represents the letter sheet and 36 the blocks of dye thereon, which indicate that before the sendee received the envelope, some one had attempted to open the same by the application of moisture in some form suflicient to cause the dye to run from the dye paper from the one or more marking units employed.

It is to be understood that while the foregoing speciiication sets forth a limited number of forms of the invention, numerous other forms can be produced in addition to the foregoing within the scope of the appended claims, and while the foregoing description has been specific, it is to be understood that numerous changes in shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described my invention, what r claim as new isz- 1. An envelope comprising a front side, a back side, a closure flap, said ap being provided with a tongue, said back side of the envelope beingV slot for receiving the tongue, said iiap being proy vided with a pair of ears, one ear on each sideof the tongue at the point where the tongue joins the flap, said ears projecting in the direction of the tongue, said ears and flap being gummed on one side to adhere the same to the back side of the envelope so that the said ears can be secured in substantial alignment with the slot, one being located at each end of the slot.

WARREN R. LEAS. 

